Differential mechanism.



1. n. JOHNSON.

DIFFERENTIAL' MECHANISM.

APrLlcAloN min nic.

Y 1, nf. JOHNSON. 4 DIFFERENTIAL MEHANISM.`

APPLICATION FILED JEC-3, lll?.

1,279,118.Y y `,Pamntasepn 17,1918.

ferent operative position;

gt'orniof my invention;

`To all whom iit may concern JOHN I). JOHNSON, 0F SEATTLE, 'WASHINGTON.

DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patent-ea sept. 17,1918.

Application filed December 3, 1917. Serial No. 205,254.

Be it known that I, JOHN D. JOHNSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, ha've invented a certain new and useful Mechanism; of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in differential mechanism for motor vehicles and is an improvement on the differential mechanism disclosed in my prior co-pending application Serial No. 142,758, filed January 16. 1917; to simplify and' render more efficient the construction of differential mechanism of a type wherein the power is transmitted from a driving shaft to two driven shafts disposed ,at substantially right angles therein `f o rotate the driven shafts at the same rateof speed 4or to ermitt-he said driven shafts to rotate at dif erent rates of speed,

The novel features of this device as distinguished from the device of my prior application hereinbefore referred toffe-side in .the form of construction and arrangement of the various 'parts' that are adapted th clutchjor grip the flanges of two disks that are connected with the differential axles ofthe two driving wheels of a motor vehicle.

I accomplish this object by devices '1llus-' frated in the accompanying drawings, where in* Figure 1 is a. view in substantially hori zontal midseetion of a differential mechanism constructed in accordance with my inveution;

Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section, on broken line 2, 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a. detail of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a view 'in cross-section on broken line 4, 4 of Fig. 1, certain portions of which being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a" view similar to Fig. 4 except that the outer bevel gear is removed and the centrally located parts are shown in a dif Fig. 6 is a detached view-in elevation illust-rating details of my invention.

Fig. 7 `1s a view partly in Section and partly in 'elevation illustrating a. modified- Fig. B"s a sectional view substantially on broken 'line 8, 8 of Fig. f

Fig. 9 is a detached view 1n elevation ot' a .Improvement in Differential and thefobject of my invention is gri-ppingdog ot' the form used in Figs. 'i'

and 8 Fig. 10 is a fragmentary 'view in eleva- 'tion'illustrating a gripping dogl in an oper- Fig. 11 is a View in perspective. of one of the parts embodied in the device shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Referring to the. drawings:throughout Awhich like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numerals 10 and 1l designate the two halves of a differential 4housing that are flanged as at 12 and secured together by bolts 13.

The sections 10 and 1l are provided with integrally formed axially alined shaft housings 14 and'l, respectively, within whxich are disposed axles 1G and. 17 of the floating type that extend to and are connected in a `well known manner with driving wheels, noty shown,

Concentrically disposed within the differential housings 10 and 11 and 'located in axial alinement with and adjacent to the axle housings 16 and 1i' are two integrally j formed bearings 18 and 19 respectively.

' Rotatably disposed within the hearings 18 and 19 respectively, are the hub portions 20 and 21 of disks 22 and 23 that are provided with inturned annular peripheral .flanges 24 and 25 as more clearly shown in he hubs 20 and 21 are provided with 4axial holes that are square at their outer ends for the reception of the squared ends 2G and 27 of the axles 1G and i7 and are round at their inner ends to serve as journals for the reception ot' the round ends of a stub shaft 28 that is disposed in axial aliriiauent between the two squared ends of the. shafts 16 and 17. Y

30 is a disk'havin'ga huh portion 31 that iS journalcd on' the'shaft between the disks 22 and 32 `is an annular bevel gear that is secured to the circumferential portion. of the disk 3i) by bolts 33 and normally meshes ith a pinion 34 On a driving shaft i5 that extends through a journal bearing 36 in the ciilii-u ential housing. 'l The hub 31 of the'disk 30 is provided on one. side with oppositely disposedout wai-diy projecting segments 37 and 315 .aand ou the otherside with similar opposite-ly dis-y posed outwardly `projectng segments 39 and the faces of all of said segments being formed so that they lie in radial planes with respect to the hub.

The segments 37 and 38 are offset substantially ninety degrees with respect to the segments 39 and 40 so that a radial plane bisecting the segments 37 and 38 would be at right angles to a radial plane bisecting the segments 39; and 46. f

The segments 37 and 38 are normally disposed to project into recesses 41 and 42 in a. collar 43, shown in Fig. 3, that is adapted to be rigidly secured to the shaft 28 between the disk 30 and the disk 22 and the segments 39 and 40 are normally disposed to roject into similar recesses in a similar eo lar 44 that is adapted to be secured to the shaft 28 between the disk 30 and the disk-23.

The recesses-41 and 42 are larger than the respective segments that project thereinto so that a limited angular movement of the disk 3() with respect'to the collars 43 and 44 is permitted.

Portions of the periphery of each of the col lars 43 and 44 are removed at two diametrically opposite points as indicated at 45 and' diametricallyopposite grooves 46 are formed in each ofthe removed portions 45 for the ist" reception of bearingvpins or rollers 47.

48 are clutch members or dogs that are rounded on their inner ends and grooved to fit over the rollers 47 and are provided near their outer ends with slots 49 having roundled outer and inner Walls 50 and 51, respeetively` and adapted to lit over and clutch the fianges 24 and 25. Two of the dogs' 48 are provided in connection with the collar 43 and flange 24 and two in connection with the collar 44 and flange 25.

Whenthe devices are asscznblml as shown in Fig, 1 and the disk 48 is rotated the col lars 43 and 44 will be turned and will carri' the inner ends of the dogs with them thus moving the dogs out of axial alinement and causing the curved Walls 50 and 51 of the slots 49 to bind on the flanges 24 and 25 and thereby establish a driving connection between the disk 28 and the disks 22' and The rounded surfaces 5() and 51 will .curely grip the fianges 24 and 25 without marring or cutting the same thereby preventing excessive wear on such flanges.

The gripping action of each pair of dogs 48 is controlled by four lever arms 52, 53, 54 and 55 that are. mounted on pivots 56 within slots 57 in their respective collars 43 and 44. and have downturned inner ends 58 that engage with the outer surfaces of the segments 37, 38, 39 and 40 which surfaces are pro'- vided with outwardly projecting portions 59'afl'ording inclined surfaces 60 on each side thereof that-serve as cams to vlift the inner end s of the lever arms.

The outer ends' 'of the lever arms are adapted, to bear against the outerA ends of the I dogs 48. as shown .in Figs. 4 and 5, so that vwhen the bevel gear'disk 30 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, the inner'ends of the arms 52 and 54 will be lifted. by the inclined surfaces of the projections 59 on the segments 37 and 38, resi'iectively, and the outer ends ot' such arms will press against the dogs 48, thus moving the d .48 into an inclined position with respect to the radial plane and causing them to grip the fianges 24 and 25.

To insure the engagement of the gripping dogs 48 with the iianges 24 and 25 at all times during the rotation of the differential axles 16 and 17, a frictional connection is made betweenthe ends of thestub shaft 28 and the abutting ends of the differential axles 16 and 17.

This friction is formed by providing a circular recess in each end of the stub shaft and a slot in the abutting end of the differential axle and providing a small cylindrical member 62 adapted to be encircled for the greater portion of its circumference by a spring 63 and to fit within the circular recess the member 62 having a. tongue 64 on the end thereof that is adapted to -fit within the slot in the end of the differential axle and be rotated thereby.

A small portion of the circumference of the cylinder 62 projects between the two ends of the spring 63 as shown at 65 in Fig. 2 `to prevent the spring from turning on the member 62, the spring being rotatable with the member 62 and being adapted to expand and frictionally rub against the .walls of the annular recess in the end of the shaft 28.

It is obvious that if the axles 16 and 17 are rotated by any power other than that coinmuuioatcd through the driving gear the friction devices will. exert sufficient torsion on the stub shaft 28 to actuate the 'arms 52, 54 and 55 and. cause the gripping dogs 48 lio engage the fianges and 25.

In the modified. form shown in Figs. 7 to 1l. inclusive, I have variedthe form of the segments. on the disk 30 and have changed the form of the gripping dogs and collars that fit over the shaft 28 so that the arms 52. 53, 54 and 55 may be done away with.

Referring to Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive, the

numerals and 71 designate the segments that project outwardly from the disk 30 and 72 are collars recessed as at 73 and having sections 74 that project bet-Ween thel segments 70 land 71 the collars being adapted to be keyed to the shaft 28.

75 are gripping dogs provided with grooves 76 having rounded walls and adapted to itover the flanges 25 of the disks 22 and 23.

The inner ends of the gripping dogs 75 .are adapted to project between the segments 70 and 71, as shown in Fig. 7, andare provided with protruding corners 77 that are .adapted ing protuberances von their peripheral portions; collars lixedly securedon said stub `shaft on each side of said driving member,

said collars having recesses in the ends thereof that fit over said segments; gripping dogs having their inner ends disposed in engagement with said collars and vprovided with slots adapted to fit over the flanges on4 said disks; and lever arms pivotally connected With said collars and adapted to be moved by said protuberances on said seg- ,y

, ments to urge said gripping dogs/intoengagement with said flanges. f

4. A differential mechanism comprising fa housing, which housing is provided with axially 'alined horizontal bearings; disks' having hubs journaled in said bearings and provided with inwardly directed lperipheral flanges; axle shafts having a driving conhectlon .with said hubs; a/ shorter shaft journaled in the said hubs between the adjacent ends o'f theaxle shaft; friction de. vices connecting the ends of sai'd shorter shaft with the ends of said axle shafts; sleeves secured to said shorter shaft adjacent. each of said disks; oppositely disposed gripping dogs bearing on said sleeves and having slots in the edges thereof rovided with rounded Walls and adapte to fit over and grip said inwardly directed flanges; a driven member on sa-id stub shaft in engagement with said sleeves tor'otate said sleeves; and means actuated 4by the turning of said .driven member to urge Y said 4dogs into gripping' engagement with said'.

flanges.

5. A differential mechanism of the class described comprising two spaced disks pro= vided with inwardly directed peripheral lianges; a freely rotatable shaft extending' `between said two disks; a driven member mounted on said shaft and having segments A j that project outwardly on both sides of the .having oppositely disposed positely disposed longitudinal. grooves and hub portion thereof, said segments having projections on their peripheral portions; -sleeves fixed to said shaft on each side of said driven member, each of said,` sleeves slots and 0pbeing provided in one end with recesses adapted to fit oversaid segments, said recessesA being larger than `said segments to admit of relative movement; gripping dogs having grooved inner ends that register with the grooves in said sleeves andaiord a receptacle for key pins, said dogs -having slots that fit over said angcs; and arms pivoted in the slots in said' sleeves and actuated by' lthe projections on theperipheral portions of said segments-to control the gripping en-4 gagement of said dogs.

6. A differential mechanism comprising a housing provided with" axially alined v horizontal bearings, diskshaving yinwardly vdirected peripheral flanges and outwardly directed -hubs journaled in said bearings, axle shafts having a' driving connection with said hubs, a stub shaft journaled in said hubs in alinement with said axle sl1afts, a disk havin a hub rotatively mounted on said 'stub s aft said hub 'having two out. Wardly projecting radially bifurcated segments on each side, sleeves rigidly mounted on said stub shaft and havingsections that project between the segments on said hub, oppositely disposed grippin'g dogs pivoted .on said sleeves said dogs having rounded grooves in the outer ends thereof that fit over said ianges, and projecting corners on fthe inner ends of said dogs and4 adapted to be engaged by said segments to move .said

dogs into engagement with said flangesi In witness whereof, I

my name this 23rd day of November' A. D.,

Jenn n. JoHNsoN.

hereunto subscribe 

